Q10 - Decision makers tend to

[debbie.d.park]

I picked B and got it wrong. Why is A a correct answer, and not B?

I'd appreciate an explanation.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Unfortunately, answer choice (B) is wrong for several reasons. This is the point in the section where you need to really be careful about language and what words are you used. In the first third of the LR section give the test lots of flexibility with language, then tighten it up as you enter the second third.

So here answer choice (B) says that the decision makers have presented to their advisers. The stimulus says however that they engage in vigorous debate - those are different things.

Also, it's not that the decision makers do not know which ideas they do not believe in, but rather that the decision makers know that they are uncertain on some ideas and need to debate in order to finally come to a decision.

Answer choice (A) is supported because the information states that the decision maker will sometimes debate the opposing position, just to see if others share the same misgivings s/he has.

So if you quoted the decision maker from a point when s/he was making the opposing position, the position eventually chosen would be at odds with the quote.

I hope that helps clear this up, does it?

[lhermary]

why is D wrong?

[timmydoeslsat]

why is D wrong?

This is a most strongly supported question. This is where we want to stick as closely to the text as possible.

The stimulus tells us about a one distinctive style of decision makers. This style includes a decision maker seeking a wide range of input from his or her advisers and explore alternatives. The decision maker will sometimes argue for a specific idea by playing up its strengths and playing down its weaknesses. This is not the decision maker arguing for his real beliefs on the specific idea. Rather, the decision maker is wanting to see how his "facade" of defending the idea will invoke the advisers. It will confirm to the decision maker whether his true feelings are unique or commonplace.

The decision maker finds out this information not by expressing his true beliefs on the idea, but rather taking a possible extreme position.

Choice D goes too from the text. We do not know that it is likely that they will frequently decide in favor of ideas that they do not believe.

In fact, we are not told anything about the ultimate decisions that the decision makers render. For example, what if the true beliefs of the decision maker were shown to be idiosyncratic? Or what if the idea was shown to be common?

We cannot make those assumptions from the text given.

[ManhattanPrepLSAT1]

Nice work Timmy!

[HarshS283]

While choice A, C and E are hypothetical, can I eliminate B and D because they are talking about a very specific group, certain decision maker, which is not mentioned in the argument?